I participated in a peer-to-peer
weight loss contest (I came in third after losing 45 pounds or 25% of my
weight) and am compiling some first person tips. These suggestions are not
revolutionary or new, because they are based on age old wisdom. They surely
worked for me - I went from 178.8 lbs (80 Kgs) to 133.2 (60 Kgs) in four
months. Also from a waist size of 36 inches to a size of 30 inches.

Do not skip breakfast. This is important. If you want to skip a meal, skip
lunch or dinner, but not breakfast. I recommend bagels (with cream cheese),
cereals, eggs, and fruit. Avoid pan cakes, biscuits, and especially sausage
and bacon.

Reduce food intake. I wanted to lose 20% of my weight, so I started eating 20% less. If
you usually eat five slices of Pizza, just eat four. If you drink four sodas
per day, drink only three.

Avoid specific items that has high-persistence (read fat) value. I
ate Pizza and Hamburgers during the four months, but not fried chicken or
steaks. Eat no fried food.

Perform thirty minutes of physical exercise everyday. This can include
walking, jogging, working out, or sports (I played tennis four to five times
a week during the four months).

Measure your weight daily, and note it down on a paper. This is very important because it is a daily reminder of your goals.

Some other contestants tried Protein focused Atkins Diet, Donating
Blood often, and Diet Pills. I don't endorse them, not only because I
didn't try them, but also because my way is the healthiest way to lose weight.